Boca and fierce Argentine rivals River Plate will play one another in Madrid on Sunday within the second leg of the ultimate of the Libertadores, South America’s equal of the Champions League.

River drew 2-2 with arch-rivals Boca within the first leg on Nov. 11 however the return has been moved from Buenos Aires to Spain after Boca gamers had been injured when followers attacked their staff coach shortly earlier than the match at River’s Monumental stadium on Nov. 24.

With Madrid police mounting the largest ever safety operation for a soccer recreation within the metropolis, consideration has turned to the danger of violence between the 2 bitter Argentine rivals, with the match itself taking a again seat.

“Right now we ought to be speaking about how River and Boca are placing Argentina on the best pedestal attainable and as a substitute we’re speaking about violence as a substitute of what the groups have achieved this season,” Schelotto instructed a information convention on Friday.

“Sadly, we haven’t realized from the identical errors we’ve made earlier than and we’ve ended up damaging Argentina and South America.”

The assault on Boca’s bus final month was removed from an remoted incident in Argentine soccer, and recalled occasions from a 2015 Libertadores recreation between the 2 sides when River gamers had been attacked with pepper spray.

Argentine marketing campaign group ‘Salvamos Al Futbol’ (Save Soccer) says complete of 328 individuals have died at soccer matches and 92 of these deaths have occurred within the final decade.

Schelotto mentioned the truth that the sport needed to be moved to Europe ought to function a turning level within the struggle to halt soccer violence.

“What occurred two weeks in the past occurs quite a bit in Argentina and South America however I believe it should change as a result of in the event you can’t play Boca versus River in Argentina it’s very worrying,” mentioned Schelotto, who gained 4 Libertadores titles with Boca as a participant.

“It’s the fitting time to take measures and begin to present an instance. We want time, we want video games of this high quality to be performed in Argentina or South America and to point out that we’ve matured. It’s the time to take measures and begin to present an instance.”